LCD facsimile transmission

Abstract

A system of transmitting computer display information as facsimile pels through conventional facsimile machines. The system comprises a conversion means for scaling each dot of display into facsimile pels using a scaling factor which is used to scale both the width and height of each dot of display. Each dot of display is output as some whole number of facsimile pels. Given that many facsimile machines have no memory, the facsimile pels are temporarily stored as encoded data and output in a steady stream of data bits to the facsimile machine. This frees up the limited memory of the MCU of the pocket size computer.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a computer system having an MCU and an LCD display where dots of information displayed on the LCD, such as text or graphics, including information written directly to the LCD display by hand, are to be transmitted through facsimile transmission means, a method of transmitting the dots of LCD displayed information through facsimile machines comprising the steps of: converting each of the dots of LCD display into facsimile pels using a scaling factor which is used to scale both the width and the height of each of the dots of LCD display, each of the dots of LCD display converted into some whole number of facsimile pels;   converting the facsimile pels into compressed data;   transmitting the compressed data to a buffer;   assigning a wait/proceed parameter to track the storage availability of the buffer;   checking the wait/proceed parameter to assure there is memory space within the buffer before the converter sends the compressed data to the buffer;   continuously transmitting the compressed data to the buffer when the wait/proceed parameter indicates that the buffer has available memory locations, the transmission continuing speed at which the dots of LCD display can be converted;   stopping the flow of the compressed data when the wait/proceed parameter indicates the buffer is full, and continuing the transmission when the wait/proceed parameter indicates open memory locations;   continuously transmitting the compressed data from the buffer to the facsimile machine while the buffer has compressed data stored in it, the speed at which the compressed data are transmitted from the buffer to the facsimile machine not exceeding the facsimile machine's maximum transmission rate;   proceeding to a post-message phase when the wait/proceed parameter registers no more compressed data stored in the buffer; and   transmitting the compressed data to a designated receive station.   
     
     
       2. In a computer system having an MCU and a display where dots of information displayed, such as text or graphics, are to be transmitted through facsimile transmission means, a method of transmitting the dots of displayed information through facsimile machines comprising the steps of: converting each of the dots of display into facsimile pels using a scaling factor which is used to scale both the width and the height of each of the dots of display, each of the dots of display converted into some whole number of facsimile pels;   converting the facsimile pels into compressed data;   transmitting the compressed data to a buffer;   assigning a wait/proceed parameter to track the storage availability of the buffer;   checking the wait/proceed parameter to assure there is memory space within the buffer before the converter sends the compressed data to the buffer;   continuously transmitting the compressed data to the buffer when the wait/proceed parameter indicates that the buffer has available memory locations, the transmission continuing at a speed at which the dots of display can be converted;   stopping the flow of the compressed data when the wait/proceed parameter indicates the buffer is full, and continuing the transmission when the wait/proceed parameter indicates open memory locations;   continuously transmitting the compressed data from the buffer to the facsimile machine while the buffer has compressed data stored in it, the speed at which the compressed data are transmitted from the buffer to the facsimile machine not exceeding the facsimile machine's maximum transmission rate;   proceeding to a post-message phase when the wait/proceed parameter registers no more compressed data stored in the buffer; and   transmitting the compressed data to a designated receive station.